Special Education/EIS

All states and territories must provide early intervention services to children who have, or are at risk for having, developmental delays, from birth to their third birthday.

Most CONUS locations, local school districts or health departments provide these early intervention services. The program is called different names in different areas, but it is often referred to as Part C because that is the section of the law that pertains to early intervention. The Education Directory for Children with Special Needs has a list of resources specific to each state to help you determine who you should contact. Your installation EFMP Family Support provider can also answer your questions.

If you are moving OCONUS or to a CONUS location with a DODEA school (and you live on installation), your child will receive EIS through the Defense Department’s Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, or EDIS, program.

When moving, you should hand carry copies of your child's most current individual family service plan, or IFSP, and the most current evaluation reports to your new home to ensure they are not lost.

All states and territories provide special education and related services to eligible children between the ages of 3 through 21.

When a child transfers to a different district in the same state, the new school must provide a free, appropriate public education, including comparable services, until the previously held IEP is adopted or a new one is developed and implemented. When a child transfers to another state, the receiving school must provide comparable services until an IEP review can determine if a new evaluation or IEP is appropriate.

If you are moving and your child receives special education and related services, you should hand carry all necessary school and medical documents, including the most current IEP and current evaluation reports. Hand carrying these documents ensures that they are not lost and allows the new school to begin the process as soon as you arrive.

• Education Directory for Children with Special Needs
• EFMP & Me digital tool
• Individualized Education Program & Moving
• Special Needs Parent Toolkit
• Special Needs Resources
• Exceptional Family Member Program videos

The full spectrum of special education services are available through the Okaloosa County School system.
Students who meet eligibility criteria identified through State Statutes receive services. Eligibility criteria for students with disabilities may include:

• Autism
• Specific Learning Disabled
• Emotionally Handicapped
• Hearing Impaired/Deaf
• Speech Impaired
• Language Impaired
• Other Health Impaired
• Trainable Mentally Handicapped
• Educable Mentally Handicapped
• Profoundly Mentally Handicapped
• Visually Impaired
• Severely Emotionally Handicapped
• Hospitalized/Homebound
• Developmentally Delayed

Additionally, students who meet criteria for Gifted and Pre-K at Risk receive services throughout the Okaloosa County School District.

Several commercial companies in the local area offer assessment, diagnostic, and tutoring services for a fee. Refer to the Fort Walton Beach phone directory or the Talking Phone Book for access to these companies.

Individual needs should be referred to the Special Needs Identification Assessment Coordination Program (SNIACP) so that all services in addition to education may be coordinated for inbound personnel. The Eglin SNIACP phone number is 850-883-9452 or DSN 312-875-9452.